HG Monaro
The HG Monaro GTS 350 was
rated by many as being the best of this shape Monaro even though it's suspension
and engine were de-tuned for comfort as opposed to handling. Now that the
Torana was being used by Holden for most of its racing the Monaro was sweetened
for comfort which included softer springs and a 2-speed Powerglide for
the GTS 350. The auto helped make the car feel like a luxury car
as the 275 bhp, (300bhp in the manual), was smoothed out by an excellent
auto. People had been a little apprehensive about the clunkeness
of the 4-speed so this was a good alternative for those who wanted a smooth
changing car that could still do a 16 second quarter mile without having
to heavy hand a gear lever. Around the towns of Australia the changes
to the handling set-up was noticeable as was the slightly heavy brake peddle
from the heavy duty linings. The auto GTS also catered for the business
executive Brougham driver who really wanted a coupe instead to take his
girlfriend (secretary) out of town for that late night dictation in a remote
roadside motel. The reclining seats were a new novelty that gave
the exec the choice to pull up under the shade a willow and have a rest
after a long night of dictation. Even in the 1970's the seat was
an integral part of absorbing the bumps and the seat worked well with the
new spring rates to give comfort over the roughest of streets. The
2-speed powerglide is ideal for overtaking at highway speeds as first gear
is good for 75 mph and it could get from 50 mph to 70 mph in under 3.5
seconds and with the power steering made for easy travelling. The
4-speed GTS 350 was still a bit of a brute and for those who wanted the
ultimate the an Australian car could give them then this was the pick of
the bunch.
DATE
OF INTRODUCTION
July
1970
NUMBER
BUILT
6,147
MODELS
Monaro
Coupe
Monaro
GTS
Monaro
GTS 350
PRICES
AT RELEASE
Monaro
(161 ci six & 3 speed manual) - $2765,
Monaro
GTS (186 ci six & 4 speed manual) - $3323,
Monaro
GTS 350 (5.7 V8 & 4 speed manual) - $4174
TRANSMISSIONS
Three-speed
manual. (Synchro in 2nd & 3rd)
Three-speed
manual. (All synchro. Column shift), 253 and six cylinder engines
Four-speed
all synchro manual.
M21
four-speed all synchro manual.
Two
speed Powerglide automatic
Three
speed Trimatic automatic
ENGINE/TRANSMISSION
COMBINATIONS
161
engine standard on Monaro, 186, 186S, 253 and 308 optional.
186S
standard on Monaro GTS, 253 and 308 optional.
Three
speed column shift manual standard on Monaro, Trimatic automatic optional.
Four
speed floor shift manual standard on Monaro GTS, optional with floor shift
only.
Four
speed heavy duty manual standard on GTS 350, Powerglide with floor shift
optional
BRAKES
Front:Drums
are standard with six cylinder models, power assistance optional.
Power
assisted discs standard on Monaro GTS and V8s.
Front
10.5 inch (268 mm) discs
Rear
10 inch (254 mm) drums
WHEELS
Monaro
and Monaro GTS - 5.00JJx14
V8
GTS - 6.00JJx14
INSTRUMENTS/CONTROLS
Monaro
- Speedo, fuel gauge, water temperature, oil pressure and generator charge
warning lights.
GTS
- Speedo, tacho, fuel gauge, oil pressure, ammeter, generator charge warning
light, water temperature gauge, handbrake warning light.
EXTERIOR
DIMENSIONS
Total
length (inches/mm):184.8 inches (4527.6 mm)
Total
width (inches/mm):71.8 inches (1759.1 mm)
Wheelbase
(inches/mm):111 inches (2719.5 mm)
KERB
WEIGHT
Monaro
161 - 2897 lbs (1315.3 kg).
GTS
186S - 2947 lbs (1337.9 kg) lbs
GTS
350 - 3386 lbs (1530 kg)
TURNING
CIRCLE
36.5
ft (10.7 m).
FUEL
TANK CAPACITY
All
models except GTS 350 - 16.5 gallons (75 litres)
GTS
350 - 25 gallons (113.7 litres)
ENGINE
NUMBERS
Located
stamped on a pad at the front of the right hand cylinder bank.
The
prefixes for the HG GTS 350 Monaro automatic is '327A' and the manual '350M'.
The engine serial number follows.
BODY/CHASSIS
NUMBERS
Located
stamped on a plate attached to the right hand side of the firewall. The
first five numbers of the 13 digits is the model number.
80337
- Monaro Coupe
80437
- Monaro Coupe
80837
- Monaro GTS Coupe
81837
- Monaro GTS 350 Coupe
The
next letter is the series code
G
for HG Monaro
The
next two digits are a letter/number combination indicating the plant at
which the vehicle was built
H1-H4
- Brisbane
H5-H9
- Sydney
J1-J9
- Melbourne
L1-L5
- Adelaide
L6-L9
- Perth
The
remaining five numbers is the vehicle serial number represent the sequence
in which the vehicle was built at that particular plant.
OTHER
IDENTIFICATION MARKS
GTS
350 - 'GTS' and 'Monaro' badges.
Headlight
bezels, grille, under front and rear bumpers, along sill panels, bonnet
scoops and rear of boot lid blacked out.
Four
slanted vertical louvres in lower front guards.
Low
profile bonnet scoops both sides of bonnet. |
